Draw-gear and buffing apparatus.



Patented A ug. i, |899. G. WESTINGHOUSE. DRAW GEAR AND BUFFING APPARATUS.

(Appxicntinn med Feb. 26, Lass.;

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Patented Aug. l, |899. s. wEsTlNGHousE.

DRAW GEAR AND BUFFING APPARATUS..

(Appaation tiled Feb. 2B, 18918.)

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Patented A'l'lg. I, I899 TINGHOUSE.

BUFFING APPARATUS.

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-DBAW GEAR AND No. 629,943. Patented Aug. l, l899.

G. WESTINGHUSE.

DRAW'GEAR AND BUFFING APPARATUS.

(Application mea Feb. 2e, 199s..`

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%WMWM QM i a@ No. 629,943. Patented Aug. l, |899.` G. WESTINGHOUSE.

DRAW GEAR AND BUI-'FING APPARATUS.

'(Application filed Feb, 26, 189B.) (No hludei.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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Patenten Aug. l, i899. y

G. we sTmGHoUsE. DRAW GEABYAND BUFFING APPARATUS.

(Application mea Feb. 2s, 159s.)

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' DRAW GEAR AND BUI-'FING APPARATUS.

(Application Med Feb. 26, 189B.)

Patnted Aug. i, |899.v

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UNITED STATES GEORGE tvnsTI-Nenousn, or' rrr'rsBU-Ro, rENNsYLvANIA.

DRAW-G EAR IAN o BUFFIN'G APPARATUS,

, srncrrrearrou'formmg pal-ft of Lettefslratent No. 629,943, dated August 1, 189e.

' applicati@ tied'retnmry 26, 189e. stanno. 671,783. (no man.) A

T0 @ZZ whom, t may concern: v

Be ,it known-that I, Geenen Waerme- HOUSE, ofPittsburg, in the county of Alleghenyand State of Pennsylvania., have inventeda certainneivand useful Improyement in Draw-Gear and Bufiin g Apparatus, of which improvement the followingis a specification. l

My present invention relates 4to draw-,gear and bufng apparatus of the general class or type in which a fretional resistanceis caused to beexerted by the impact of one railroadcar contacting With anothervor bydraft or pulling actionin order to reduce and modify resultantshocks and absorb momentum, and

thereby to prevent the injurious strains to.A

which the draft and bnfflng mechanism and the frames of the cars Would otherwise be subjected.

entof the United States Nos. 391,997, 499,335,

499,336, 543,915, and 545,994, granted and, issued to me under dates of October 30, 18,855,`

June 13, 1393, August 6, 1895, and September 10, 1895, respectively, and in Letters Patent of the United States No. 556,197, granted and issued to me as assignee of Frank Moore 11nder date of March 10, 1896. My invention is not, however, Vlimited in application lto any,

increased bythe capacity of prompt and cer-J tain release of the members of the frictional mechanism and theretnrn thereof to normalA position in readiness for further operation immediately upon the cessation ofthe pulling' or buling force by which the dravvfbar-or buffer and the frictional members have been moved from their normal positions, as Well as to afford improved facilities for the supconsists in the lcombination of intercalated' f frictional members, a Wedgin g device forimposing Vfrictional resistance thereon, and means for releasing the Wedging device,which shall be inert during the exertion of maximum compressive strain and operative as tov Instances of the class of appara@` tus referred to are exemplified in Letters Pat-v :releasing ,action when andA only` when said "maximum strain has been reduced and the application of force has been reversed; also, in the combination of aseries of intercalated frictional members, a Wedging device for imposing. frictional resistance'v thereon, and

means whereby releasing action is ,independently and successively exerted upon di fferent 'units or groups of the series of frictional' nnembers.

, The improvement claimed is hereinafterV 'fullysetforth 'A `/In prior constructions, asset forth in Pat-V ents Nos. 555,994 and 556,197, aforesaid, the

return of the frictional members to their normal positions depended upon the Wedging `device,orwedgebloclr being'forced from its.

lin practice that the force which was thnsexerted for returning the parts to their normal position Was less than .was desirable and the 'releaseand return of the parts not sufficiently iprompt and certain, and in the case of the vindependent releasing-spring its action Was exerted in opposition to .that of one of the main springs and before the draft or impact Istrain upon the frictional members hadbeen fully relieved, the efliciency ofthe apparatus being to'this extent impaired..A Again, in prior instances, the releasing force was exertedsimulltaneously uponthe entire series of frictional members and Was consequently opposed by their aggregate resistance, thus involving slowness and in some cases difficulty'in release, I

The objections above stated are overcome and a more simple and inexpensive apparatus provided under my present invention, in the form of which herein illustrated the tail-bolt which formerly passed through vthe centrall portion of the apparatusfor draft purposes is dispensed with audits function is performed by a strap secured to the draw-bar and extending on the exterior of the housing ICO or casingv of the frictional members to the v rear end thereof. The space which was oc? cupied by thetail-bolt is left free for the introd notion of a suitably-proportioned releasfY ments being employed.

ing-spring, which at the proper moment acts to release the frictional contact between the wedge-block and the frictional members. A bearing-pin passes freely through the wedgelolock, said pin havinga collar or shoulder adjacent to the smaller end thereof and being of such length that when the buffer-plate or draw-bar follower-plate is forced toward the carriers of the frictional members the compression of the releasing-spring is taken by the collar or shoulder of the bearing-pin in such manner that the releasin g-sprin g cannot act to release the Wedge-block until the buffer-plate has been moved some distance away from the ends of the carriers. Vhen the buffer-plate recedes from the carriers, the collar of the bearing-pin is pressed against the smaller end of the Wedge-block to release the same from frictional engagement with the carriers, thereby permitting the main draft and buffing springs to return all of the parts to their normal positions.

In the constructions set forth in 'Patents Nos. 545,094 and 556,197, before referred to, the wedge-block is surrounded by three carriers or segments, each carrying seven frictional strips or wedge-bars, six of which are detachably connected to the carrier by projections tting appropriate recesses therein. In this instance eight carriers are shown as employed, each provided with a fixed central strengthening-rib and two detachable frictional strips or wedge-bars. In the prior constructions the projections of the frictional strips fitted the recesses of the carriers without any appreciable lost motion, so that all the frictional strips had to be practically released from a close contact with the corresponding members on the housing7 such simultaneous release requiring in some instances almost the full effort of the mainspring. In my present invention the frictional strips, instead of being simultaneously released, as heretofore, are successively and independently released, preferably as shown, in groups of any preferred and determined number, although the same operative principle may be similarly carried out by effecting the separate and independent release of each individual member of the series. The independent release of different members is provided for by making the recesses of the carriers with which the projections of the friction-al strips engage of suitably-determined different lengths, so that while one or more of said strips shall be compelled to move coincidently with its or their carrier or carriers progressively-increasing degrees of lost motion or independent traverse of the carriers relatively to other frictional strips or groups of strips shall be provided for. A suitable construction for the purpose is shown in the drawings, two sets of carriers or seg- In the segments of one set one of the detachable frictional strips fits practically without any slackness or lost motion in the recess of the segment, while a small amount of lost motion-say one-six-` teen th of an inch-is allowed in the recess of the other frictional strip of the same carrier. In the carriers of the other set an increased amount of lost motionsay one-eighth of an inch-is allowed in the recess of one of the frictional strips of each carrier, and a further increased amount of lost motion-say threesixteenths of an inch-is allowed in the recess of the other frictional strip of the same carrier. The central or fixed strip in each case is reduced in size, so that it performs simply the function of a strengthening-rib for the segment. It will be seen that with this con struction all of the frictional strips are simultaneously forced into frictional engagement withl the corresponding members of the housing by the buifer-plate and that whenareverse action takes place bythe opposite movement of the buffer-plate four of the frictional strips are first moved one-sixteenth of an inch before the segments encounter the resistance of the second group of four, the movement of onesiXteenth of an inch being sufficient to release the first four strips from their frictional contact with the sides of the corresponding grooves of the housing. The second, third, and fourth groups are in like manner independently and successively loosened and moved. In ord er that the two sets of carriers shall be properly relatively located, the segments of one set may be notched or recessed at each side of their outer ends and those of the other set provided with corresponding projections, thus insuring the ready and correct location and assemblage of the several carriers and frictional strips of the entire series.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal central section, of a draft and bufiing apparatus,illustratingan embodiment of myinvention; Fig. 2, an inverted plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a side view in elevation; Fig. 4, a transverse section at the line t t of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a similar section at the linee 'o of Fig. 3 with the outer spring omitted; Fig. 6, a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, through the housing, with the outer spring omitted, at the line w w of Fig. 1; Fig. 7, a partial vertical longitudinal central section, on an enlarged scale, showing the parts in the positions occupied when the apparatus is subject to maximum compressive bufng strain, Fig. 8, a plan View of one of the initial set of carrier-plates; Fig. 9, a similar view of one of the secondary set of carrier-plates; Fig. 10, a longitudinal section through the carrier-plate shown in Fig. 9; Figs. 11 and 12, transverse sections through the same at the lines x x and y y, respectively, of Fig. 10; Fig. 13, a plan View of'one of the inner wedge-bars; Fig. 14, a longitudinal section through the same; Fig. 15, a transverse section through the same; Figs. 16 to 23, inclusive, plan views of the carrier-plates in the sequence in which they are relatively disposed about the wedge-block lOO IIO

with the wedge-bars in position, Figs. 1G, 1S,

20, and 22 representing the initial set of carrier-plates, and Figs. 17, 19, 21, and 23 the secondary set. Figs. 24 to 8),inclusive, are longitudinal sections through the carrier-plates and wedge-bars shown in Figs. 16 to 23, each pair of iigures, as connected by a brace, being sections through the upper and the lower wedge-bar, respectively, shown .in the plan view opposite to which they are placed and all the figures showing the parts in the positions occupied Aat the commencement of the release of the first group of four wedge-bars; Figs. 40 to 55, inclusive, sections similar to Figs. 24 to 39, except that the parts are shown in the positions occupied at the commencement of the release of the second group of four Wedge-bars. Figs. 56 to 7l, inclusive, are ysections similar to Figs. 24 to 39, except that the parts are shown in the positions occupied at the commencement of the release of the third group of four wedge-bars; Figs. 72 to 79, inclusive, plan views of the carrierplates in operative sequence with the inner wedge-bars in the positions occupied at the commencement of the release of the fourth group of four wedge-bars; and Figs. 80 to 95, inclusive, sections similar to Figs. 24 to 39, except that the parts are shown in the positions occupied at the commencement of the release of the fourth group of four wedgebars.

In the specific form of my invention which has been selected for illustration a draw-bar 1, provided with a suitable coupling-head 1 and a housing or casing 2, within which are located the frictional mechanism and springs of the apparatus, are mounted and supported in a frame composed of two longitudinal plate members 3 3, guiding and supporting bars 7 7, and a distance-block et, which is interposed between the longitudinal members at their outer ends. The longitudinal members 8 3 are in the form of vertical plates of cast or wrought iron or steel and are continuous at and adjacent to their upper sides only, each being formed with an open-bottomed recess toward its inner end for the major portion of its depth to admit the housing 2 and bufferplate 10. The longitudinal members are provided with upper iianges 3b and lower anges 3C and are secured to the draft-timbers -5 or the center sills of the car and to an end sill 6 thereof by bolts et, passing through their upper anges. ,Their rm connection to the draft-timbers is further insured by the engagement of projections on their upper sides with-corresponding recesses in the draft-timbers. The outer ends of the longitudinal members are connected by bolts 4, passing through an interposed distance-block 4", and are provided with upward projections 3,

` which are recessed into the end sill 6 and toerses on two supporting-bars 7, one of whichl is secured detachably to each of the longitudinal members, below the recess thereof, by

bolts 7i, Vertical iianges 3d on the longitudinal members, at the outer ends of therecesses thereof, serve as abutments for the folf lower-plate 10 when the apparatus is subjected to draft strains, and vertical flanges 3e at the inner ends of the recesses form abutments for the inner end of the housing whenv shoulders at their inner ends, are formed upon the lower portion of the housing, and through said anges and shoulders the housing rests upon and is'guided in its traverse on the supporting-bars 7. Vertical displacement of the housing is prevented by the bearing of a plate 2, on its inner end, against the tops of the recesses in the longitudinal members of the frame. The provision of the detachable supporting-bars 7 strengthens the frame, affords proper supports and guides for the housing, and enables the insertion and removal of the housing in and from operative position to be readily effected whenever desired.

The outerwedge-bars 16, which are carried by the housing, are, as in previous instances,

of substantially triangular cross-section and are separated one from another bylougitndinal grooves or recesses of similar cross-sec tion, which receive the inner series of wedge' bars 13, to be presently described. The portion of the housing on which the outer wedgebars are formed is tapered longitudinally at a comparatively slight angle from the open outer end of the housing which is nearer the draw-bar toward the opposite end, andthe outer wedge-bars 1G are of uniform depth radially, so that their inner edges ma-y be said to form elements of a frustum of a cone whose axis coincides with that of the housing. A conical bearing or abutment is thus provided, against which the in ner wedge-bars are forced when subjected to pressure by the action of the wedge-block.

Tractive force applied to the draw-bar is transmitted to and acts upon the housing 2 to effect outward movement thereof by and through a U-shaped draft-strap 19, whichextends around and abuts against the inner end vof the housing and is secured at its forward end to the draw-bar by' bolts 19a. Inward movement of the draw-bar, resultant upon bufng strains, imparts pressure to the housing through a buffer-plate or follower-plate 10, which fits freely against the inner end` of the draw-bar and through interposed draft and buftiugsprings 9 and 1l. Draft strains are transmitted from the housing to the carframe through the bearing-faces of the danges 3-l of the frame members 3 3, and under buff- IOC IIO

ing strains the housing abuts against the bearing-faces of the flanges Se of said frame members.

A wedge-block 8, which is in the form of a frustum of a pyramid or cone, the former shape being adopted in this instance, is located within the housing 2, in line axially therewith, its larger end being toward the outer end of the housing, and a series of carrier plates or segments, composed of what may.

l respectively, are formed in the carrier-plates 12 of the initial set on opposite sides of the central rib thereof. Similar grooves 15b 15c of slightly-different widths, respectively, and each of greater width than the wider of the grooves of the carrier-plates o f the initial set, are formed in the carrier-plates of the secondary set. In order to insure the correct relative location in the series of the plates of the initial and secondary sets, lateral recesses 1S may be formed in the plates of the initial set and corresponding lateral projections 18, adapted to fit therein, in the plates of the secondary set.

A series of inner wedge-bars 13, each of triangular section corresponding with that of the grooves or recesses between the outer wedge-bars 16 and having a tenon or projec tion 14 on its inner side, is placed on the outer sides of the series of carrier-plates l2 12, the tenons 14 of said wedge-bars each fitting in one of the circumferential recesses 15 15a 15b 15 of the carrier-plates. The tenons of the several wedge-bars are of uniform width, and, as before stated, the recesses of the carrierplates are of relatively-increasing width, the

narrowest recesses, which are formed in the carrier-plates of the initial set, being of such width that the tenons of the wedge-bars make practically a close fit therein, no lost motion or play being allowed. The opposite recesses of the carrier-plates of the initial set are made of slightly-greater width than the tenonsas, say, one-sixteenth of an inch-and that amount of independent movement of said plates relatively to the wedge-bars the tenons of which engage these recesses is thereby permitted. The recesses on one side of the carrier-plates of the secondary set are made so wide as to allow a greater amount of independent movement-as, say, one-eighth of an inch-and the opposite recesses of the plates of the secondary set are made still wider, so as to allow, say, three-sixteenths of an inch of independent movement. In the instance illustrated, there bein g eight carrierplates in the entire series, each carrying two inner wedge-bars, or sixteen in all, the wedgebars may, under the construction above described, be said to be divided into four groups relatively to the periods at which longitudinal movement will be imparted to them by such movement of the carrierplatesthat is to say, assuming, as is the case in practice, that longitudinal movement is imparted simultaneously to the entire series of carrierplates, and that the wedge-bars are held stationary by a frictional resistance greater than that between their horizontal inner surfaces and the adjacent surfaces of the carrier"- plates movement, which will be both longitudinal and inward, will be first imparted'to the first group of four wedge-bars, or those whose tenons fit without lost motion in the grooves, and the other twelve wedge-bars will not be acted on by the carrier-plates. As soon as the carrier-plates have moved onesixteenth of an inch that amount of lost motion which is left in the opposite grooves of the carrier-plates of the initial set will be taken up and movement will be imparted to the second group of four wedge-bars, whose tenons rest in said grooves, so that in the continued traverse of the carrier-plates they will effect the movement of leight wedge-bars, the remaining eight not being acted on by them. Similarly, when they have moved one-eighth of an inch they will begin to act on and impart movement to the third group of four wedge-bars, whose tenons rest in the grooves on one side of the plates of the secondary set in which that amount of lost motion is left, thereby carrying with them twelve wedgebars and leaving four unacted upon, and, finally, when the carrier-plates have moved t-hree-sixteenths of an inch they will begin to act on and impart movement to the fourth group of four wedge-bars, whose tenons rest in the grooves on the opposite sides of the plates of the secondary set in which that amount of lost motion is left. .During the residue of the traverse of the carrier-plates they will carry with them the entire series of inner wedge-bars.

rlhe serial or successive action of the carrier-plates upon the several groupsof inner wedge-bars, as above described, is clearly 4illustrated in Figs. 16 to 95, inclusive, by reference to which, and having in mind that the movement of the carrier-plates is in each case ICO IIO

in the direction of the arrows, it will be seen that at the commencement of the traverse of said plates the shoulders of their recesses bear and act only on the tenons of four of the wedge-bars-to Wit, those resting in the narrower recesses of the initial set, as shown in Figs. 24, 28, 32, and 36. When the carrierplates have traversed a distance equal to the amount of lost motion left in the wider recesses of the initial set, the shoulders of said recesses will bear and act on the tenons of the second group of four wedge-bars which rest therein, as shown in Figs. 41, 45, 49, and 53,

and in the continued traverse of the carrierplates they will act on eight wedge-bars, as shown in Figs. 40, el, ai, 45, L18, 49, 52, and 53. When the carrier-plates have traversed a distance equal to the amount of lost motion left in the narrower recesses of the secondary set, the shoulders of said recesses will bear and act on the tenons ofthe third group of .wedgebars which rest therein, as shown in Figs. 58, 62, 66, and 70, and in the continued traverse of the carrier-plates they will act on twelve wedge-bars, as shown in Figs. 56, 57, 58, 60,v 61, 62, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, and 70. When the carrier-plates have traversed a distance equal to the amount of lost motion left in the wi der recesses of the secondary set, the shoulders of said recesses will bear and act on the tenons of the fourth group of wedge-bars which rest therein, as shown in Figs. 83, 87, 91, and 95, and in the continued traverse of the carrier plates they will act upon the entire series of inner wedge-bars, as shown in Figs. 8O to 95, inclusive.

It will be obvious to the skilled constructor that the number of carrier-plates,` the number of inner Wedge-bars carried on each plate, and the extent of independent movement or lost motion ofthe carrier-plates relatively to the wedge-bars may he varied to any desired degree Without departure from the spirit of my invention, so that the severalinner wedge-vv bars of the series may be serially or successively acted upon by the carrier-plates either individually or in groups of greater or less number and at such intervals as may be desired and determined.

An outer main draft and buftingy spring 9 surrounds a tubular stem formed on the wedge-block 8, the ends of said spring resting without substantial tension thereon when the parts are in normal position in readiness for operation on the inner side of the followerplate 10 and the outer side of the wedgeblock 8, respectively. An inner ,draft and bufting spring 11 of greater tension than that of the outer spring 9 abuts at its inner end on the inner end of the housing 2 and. atits outer end on the inward projections of the carrier-plates 12 l2, which fit the inclined surfaces of the wedge-block, said spring constantly tending to maintain the carrier-plates in frictional contact Lwith the wedge-block. A releasing-spring 17, located in the housing inside of the inner draft and buifing spring 11, abut-s at its innerend on the inner end of the housing and at its outer end ou a collar 21, formed on a bearing-pin 20, which passes freely through the wedge-block. vThe bearing-pin 2O is made of such length that when the buffer-plate 10 is out of contact with the outer ends of the carrier-plates thecollar 21 is pressed by the releasing-spring 17 against the smaller end of the wedge-block, as shown in Fig. 1, and the wedge-block is thereby released from friotional engagement with the carrier-plates. lVhen, however, the bufferplate is forced inward by a sufficient buffmg strain, it bears on the outer end of the pin 20 and moves the collar 21 thereof away from the smaller end of the wedge-block, as shown `in Fig. 6, thereby relieving the wedge-block from the pressure of the releasing-spring 17 and causngthe same to be taken by the collar 2l. When the collar of the bearing-pin is thus moved outof contact withv the wedgeblock, it will be seen that the latter is released from' any action which would tend to reduce or impair the degree of its frictional engagement with the carrier-plates.

The provision of means whereby releasing action is exerted upon the wedging device when and only when it is necessary or desirable that frictional resistance should be released and the wedging device is rendered exempt from releasing action during the ,periods in which frictional .resistancedue toits wedging action is required to be exerted is a leading and essential characteristic of` my present invention, and such feature being, so 1 far as kmy knowledge and information extend broadly new I do not desire to limit myself to the specific mechanism for its utilization in practice which is herein exemplified.

In the operation of the apparatus, the parts being in4 the positions shown in Fig. 1, when the draw-bar is forced inwardly by asuicient buii'ing strain the buffer-plate 10 is forced to the right, compressing the outer mainspring 9 and imparting pressure through said spring to the wedge-block 8, which, acting on theinclined portions of thecarrier-plates 12 12a, forces said carrier-plates and the series of inner wedge-bars 13, carried thereon, radially outward. The inner wedge-bars are thereby tightly wedged in the spaces between the outer wedge-bars `16 of the housing, and when no furtheroutward movement of the inner wedge-bars can be effected ythe carrier-plates and inner wedge-bars and the wedge-block will be moved togetherL to the right. The bearing-pin 20has meanwhile been moved to the right bythe pressure of the buffer-plate on its outer end, and the wedge-block having been thereby freed fromy the pressure of the releasing-spring 17 no obstacle is presented to the full exercise of its wedging action on the carrier-plates. ment of the carrier-plates to the right compresses the inner mainspring 11, and the longitudinal taper of the housing causes a further wedging ofthe outer and inner wedgebars as the latter are moved to the right. The friction between the contact-,surfaces of the inner and outer wedge-bars, together with the resistance of the springs 9, 11, and 17 to the compression to which they are subjected,

The longitudinal nieve-A IOO IIC

turned to the normal positions shown in Fig. 1 by the action of the several springs. The expansion of the spring 9 moves the bufferplate and draw-bar outwardly until the bufferplate abuts against stops or shoulders on the main frame-bars 3 3. After the maximum bufiing strain has been reduced and the application of force has been reversedthat is to say, a preponderance of outward force in the then higher tension of the releasing-spring 17 has been exerted-the releasing-spring 17 forces the collar 21 of the bearing pin 20 against the smaller end of the wedge-block and, acting against the reduced resistance-of the expanding main outer spring v9, releases the wedge-block from its frictional engagement with the carrier-plates. The resistance of the wedge-block to the loosening and inward movement of the inner wedge-bars having beenthus relieved,said bars are,in groups of four each, serially or successively loosened 'and moved out of frictional engagement with the outer wedge-bars 16, in the manner hereinbei'ore described, by the outward pressure of the expanding mainspring 11 upon the inner ends of the inward projections of the series of carrier-plates.

In the application of a draft strain to the draw-bar outward movement is imparted to housing 2 by the draft-strap 19, which is connected to the draw-bar, and the mainspring 9 is initially compressed. The resistance of the spring 9 to compression tends to prevent outward movement of the wedge-block 8, and the pressure on the spring 11 moves the carrier-plates and inner wedge-bars longitudinally outwardly, the carrier-plates in such longitudinal traverse moving upwardly upon the inclined surfaces of the wedge-block, and thereby moving the inner Wedge-bars 13 radially outwardly and wedging them in the recesses between the outer wedge-bars 16, and the continued traverse of the housing under the strain of draft will effect compression of the mainspring 11 and releasing-spring 17. After the mainspring 9 has been fully compressed the housing, with the carrier-plates and the inner Wedge-bars, will be moved longitudinally outwardly until the outer ends of the carrier-plates and the outer end of the bearing-pin 20 abut against the buffer-plate. The pressure of the buffer-plate on the bearing-pin moves its collar 21 away from the smaller end of the wedge-block, and thereby prevents releasing action of the spring 17 on the wedge-block. The longitudinal outward movement of the carrier-plates is resisted by theV friction between the inner and outer wedge-bars and the wedging action due to the longitudinal taper of the housing. The spring 11 will be further compressed after the carrier-plates have been moved up against the buffer-plate by the further movement of the housing until its resistance to compression and the resistance of the frictional members overcome the draft strain. Upon the release of draft strain the parts will be returned to their normal positions (shown in Fig. 1) by the springs. l

My invention attains in practice a substantial and material advantage by reason of insuring the prompt and certain release of the frictional members upon the cessation of strain thereon without involving the impairment of their effectiveness in and for resistance to strains during the periods in which they are subjected thereto, and for furnishing which resistance they are designed and provided. The serial or step-by-step action of the mainspring in effecting the release of the inner wedge-bars from the outer ones enables the expansive force of the spring to be more effectually exerted and the releasing operation to be correspondingly facilitated and made certain, inasmuch as the resistance of the locked series of wedge-bars being divided into fractions, which are independently and successively encountered and overcome by the expansion of the spring, the action thereof is to a material degree more easy, elfective, and reliable than when, as in the prior constructions, exerted against the aggregate resistance of the entire series of wedge-bars.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a draw-gear or bufling apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of intercalated frictional devices, a wedging device for imposing frictional resistance thereon, and means for releasing said wedging device which are adapted to be inert during the exertion of maximum compressive strain, and operative as to releasing action, when, and only when, said maximum strain has been reduced.

2. In a draw-gear or bufiing apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of intercalated frictional devices, a wedging device for imposing frictional resistance thereon, means for releasing said wedging device, and means for preventing the action of the releasing means upon the wedging device during the exertion of maximum compressive strain.

3. In a draw-gear or bufng apparatus, the combination, substantiallyas set forth, of intercalated frictional devices, a wedging device for imposing frictional resistance thereon, means for releasing said wedging device, and means for preventing the action of the releasing means upon the wedging device during the exertion Vof maximum compressive strain, and institu ting releasing action after the reduction of said maximum strain.

11. In a draw-gear or bufng apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a series of frictional devices, a series of relatively movable frictional devices adapted to engage therewith, a wedging device for forcing the two series of frictional devices into frictional engagement, means for applying compressive strain to the frictional devices IOO IIO

^ and means for preventing the act-ion of the releasing means upon the wedging device during the exertion of maximum compressive strain and instituting releasing action afv ter the reduction of said maximum strain.

5. In a draw-gear or buing apparatus, the

. combination, substantially as set forth, of intercalated frctional devices, a Wedging device for imposing frictional resist-ance thereon, a spring which is adapted, under compressive strain, to produce frictional engagement of the frictional devices and the Wedging device, and means for releasing said wedging device which are adapted to be inert during the exertion of maximum compressive strain upon the spring, and operative, as to releasing action, when, and only when, said maximum strain has been reduced.

6. In a draw-gear or bufting apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a series of frictional devices, a series ot relatively movable frictional devices adapted to engage therewith, a wedging devicefor forcing the two series of frictional devices into frictional engagement, means for applying compressive strain to the frictional devices and wedging device, means for releasing the wedging device from the frictional devices, means for preventing the action of the releasing means upon the Wedging device during the exertion of maximum compressive strain and instituting releasing action after the reduction of said maximum strain, and means for releasing the two series of frictional devices one from the other after the release of the wedging device.

7. In a.drawgear or bufting apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a housing carrying a series of outer Wedge-bars, a wedge-block, a series of carrier-plates surrounding said wedge-block and fitting inclines thereon, a series of inner Wedge-bars resting on the carrier-plates and adapted to bear against the series of outer wedge-bars, a draw-bar, a buffer-plate through which pressure is transmitted from and to the draw-bar,

'a mainspring abutting on the butter-plate and on the larger end of the wedge-block, a mainspring abutting on the housing, and on the carrier-plates at the smaller end of the wedge-block, a bearing-pin passing freely through the Wedge-block, a collar fixed on the bearing-pin in position to bear on the smaller end of the wedge-block, at such distance from Y the opposite end of the pin as to be moved clear of the wedge-block by the buffer-plate when efecting compression of the mainspriugs, and a releasing-spring abutting on s aid collar and on the inner end of the housing.

8. In a draw-gear'or buffing apparatus, the

combination, substantially as set forth, of intercalated frictional devices, a Wedging device for imposing frictional resistance thereon, and means for independently and successively exerting releasing action upon different units or groups of the frictional devices.

i). In a draw-gearor boiling apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of intercalated frictional devices, a wed ging device for imposing frictionall resistance thereon, and means for independently and successively imparting movement to units or groups of the frictional devices, relatively to counterparts withv which they are frictionally eugaged, in direction to release such frictional engagement.

l0. In a draw-gear or butiing apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a series of frictional devices, a series of relatively movable frictional devices adapted to engage therewith, a wedging device for forcing the two series ot' frictional devices into frictional engagement, and means for independently and successively imparting movement to units or groups of one series of frictional devices, in direction to eilect their serial or successive release from the other series.

1l. In a draw-gear or buding apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a series of frictional devices, a series of relatively movable irictional devices adapted to engage therewith, a wedging device for forcing the two series of frictional devices into frictional engagement, carriers interposed between the Wedging device and one of the series of frictional devices, connections between said carriers and the adjacent series of frictional devices which permit independent movement of. the carriers relatively to diderent units or groups of the connected frictional devices, and means for imparting movement to the carriers, in direction to release the frictional engagement of the two series of frictional devices.

l2. In a draw-gear or buing apparatus, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a housing carrying a series ot outer wedge-bars, a wedge-block, a series of carrier-plates surrounding the wedge-block and fitting inclines thereon, a series of inner wedge-bars resting on the carrier-plates and adapted to bear against the series of outer wedge-bars, tenons on the inner wedge-bars adapted to engage with the carrier-plates, recesses in the carrier-plates adapted to receive the tenons of the inner wedge-bars, and of diderent widths, respectively, relatively to the tenons .of di Eferent units or groups of the inner wedgebars, and a spring abutting on one end of the housing and on the adjacent ends of the carrier-plates.

13. In a draw-gearor buiiing apparatus, the

combination, substantially as set forth, of a housing carrying a series ot' outer wedge-bars, a wedge-block, two or more sets of carrierplates surrounding thewedge-block and t- -v ting inclines thereon, interlocking members for regulating the disposal of the sets of carrier-plates in determined serial relation, a series of inner wedge-bars resting on the car- IOO IIO

riet-plates and adapted to bem' against' the inner \veclge-bars, and a. spring abutting on outer Wedge-bars, tenons on the inner Wedgeone end of the housing and on the adjacent xo bars adapted to engage with the cai-iieiends of the carrier-plates.

plates, recesses in the carrier-plates adapted l to receive the tenons of the inner Wedge-bars, l GEO VESVl INGHOUSE' and of dierent Widths, respectively, in the Vitnesses: different sets of carrier-plates, relatively to J. SNOWDEN BELL, the tenons of different units or groups of the H. A. CROOKS. 

